A male porn star has taken the blame for the current syphilis outbreak that has closed down the adult film industry in Los Angeles.

After Mr. Marcus contracted the bacterial infection on set, he altered his syphilis-positive test so he could continue performing.

The 18-year veteran actor’s admission came after the industry’s self-imposed 10 day moratorium which has sen more than 1,000 performers in the Los Angeles area get tested and administered preventative antibiotics.

At least nine porn stars have revealed they have contracted syphilis.

According to XBiz Mr Marcus said: "I tried to cover it up…because I said it was like the scarlet letter. It’s the word. Syphilis, whoa," he said. "Mr Marcus, syphilis? Mr Marcus, the one I worked with? The one that everybody works with? The one that’s been in this industry forever?"

A doctor told Mr Marcus that he would not be contagious 10 days after taking a shot of penicillin on July 13.

With that diagnosis he returned to work 11 days later, on July 24, still with syphilis.

Instead of presenting a paper or digital copy of the test results he showed the producer a copy on his phone so the details about the infection were not visible.

While filming another porn film, Mr Marcus said he folded the test to hide the syphilis diagnosis and photocopied it but a producer noticed the results were missing and questioned him about it.

He said: "I have to live with this, no one else does."

The porn star posted on Twitter yesterday: "You can be disappointed, but don't throw stones. Some of you are living in glass houses."

The actor said that three women he performed with after his diagnosis have all tested negative for syphilis.

The bacterial infection has a 90-day incubation period meaning a porn actor could potentially be carrying the disease without it showing up on tests.

Cover up: The porn star tried to hide his diagnosis because it was 'like a scarlet letter', leaving out the positive test results when showing producers a photocopy of his blood test. Yesterday he tweeted after his admission

Porn star Aletta Ocean, 24, said on Tuesday that she contracted syphilis while shooting movies in Budapest, Hungary.

Aletta Ocean

Her revelation led to speculation that the outbreak of the disease came from Hungary.

According to porn industry blog LukeIsBack.com she tweeted: "F*cking siphilis problem… In Budapest many people got it..Me too…"

Sex workers are supposed to undergo regular blood tests to ensure they are free of sexually transmitted disease.

It was reported that one of the labs frequented by porn stars does not test for syphilis.

Syphilis is a treatable bacterial infection that can be spread by both bodily fluids and contact with infected skin.

Its causes skin lesions and rashes. If left untreated, it can permanently alter and damage internal organs and brain function.

The number of syphilis cases in California has jumped 18 per cent according to a recent report from the California Department of Public Health.

The results showed a much higher rate of men had contracted the infection and that African Americans were affected more than any other racial demographic.

The outbreak is likely to bolster a ballot issue in November that aims to force all porn performers to wear condoms during pornography shoots.

Condom use has become of political issue in Los Angeles since a 2010 AIDs outbreak, which infected one performer.

Disgusting...... a good example and reason condoms should be used in porn. If you use condoms you won't catch s*** like this and s*** worse than this and you'll still have a life worth living. Instead of looking like a walking incubator for std's."Cough, Marcus, big a** sickly hacking cough" Still would be a dirty game but you got a good chance to avoid SOME of the worst s*** out there. Herpes and worts though, you mess with someone regardless of condom use that got this you F**ked, kiss your a** and f**king days good bye. Unless you like ruining the lives of others......

There should be more emphasis on protected sex in the adult film biz there alot more worse diseases than syphillis that can't be cured with a penicillin shot.Anyway if he knew was sick he should been out there like that.